Former coach reveals Leo Lombard’s rise from Burleigh Bombers to Gold Coast Suns
The junior coach who gifted his own car to help a kid without a father figure chase his AFL dream has spoken of his pride as Leo Lombard prepares for his first game as a Gold Coast Sun.
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The junior coach who gifted his own car to help a kid without a father figure chase his AFL dream has spoken of his pride as Leo Lombard prepares for his first game as a Gold Coast Sun.
When Lombard laces up his boots on Saturday to run out for his AFL debut at People First Stadium, there will be few prouder figures in the crowd than Stuart Harrison.
For Lombard, Harrison was more than just a coach, but a much-needed father figure who had an everlasting impact on his life.
The Suns Academy graduate played under Harrison for six years at Burleigh Bombers before he joined the Broadbeach Cats in the latter stages of his time in the Academy.
“He calls me his godfather,” Harrison said.
“My wife’s actually in Bali right now, I got four boys, so she’s over there with one of the boys and they’re obviously really disappointed they’re not going to be here (to see Lombard’s debut).
“But as a family, we just couldn’t be happier for him.”
It is understood Lombard doesn’t have a relationship with his biological father, renowned mixed martial artist Hector Lombard, which sparked his junior coach to step in as a father figure and support him and his mum Nicky - who worked three jobs to raise the Suns draftee.
“It’s taken a community to get behind them and help them and I feel like I’ve probably led the charge in that area and trying to make sure there’s going to be no reason why Leo can’t make it,” Harrison said.
“Whether that’s been from sponsoring his flights to carnivals or just recently I lent him a car when he got his license. The little green RAV4 he used to drive, that’s my car.
“I gave him that and a fuel card. I just wanted to make sure that for a kid coming from such a disadvantaged beginning, there was going to be no reason why he couldn’t maximise what he could possibly achieve.
“I think we all just made that commitment that that’s what we were going to do and that’s that - I’m not one for excuses.”
Off the field, Harrison was the comforting father figure who cherished spending time with Lombard and helped him to grow and develop as a person.
However, on the field, he was determined to push the young prodigy and his teammates to fulfil their dreams.
“I think no one put more pressure on Leo than Leo, he had very, very high standards he set for himself,” Harrison said.
“And to be fair when you look at the Burleigh juniors, we’ve got a group of kids that all committed to this same absolute goal.
“Lachie Gulbin (Suns 2024 rookie draft pick) was with him all the way, you had Zai Millane (2025 mid-season rookie draft prospect) with him all the way.
“Then the next layer down, Jai Murray, Zeke Uwland, Mali Uwland, Beau Addinsall (all Suns Academy), these kids played hundreds of football games together.
“We made it really clear, we’re not setting a ceiling on what you can do.
“I treated them as young men and asked them not to disappoint me.”
Harrison regularly held additional non-compulsory training sessions each week and said those Suns Academy guns were always eager to spend additional time to develop their craft with Lombard leading the way for his Burleigh counterparts.
The 2024 No. 9 draft pick is renowned for his explosive power through the midfield and forward line which has been a trait dating back to his early days with Burleigh, where he would often have two opposing players tagging him at once.
“Leo’s always had this aura, an aura of power,” he said.
“I look at him as a modern day Leigh Matthews, no one messed with Leigh Matthews.
“Leo, obviously you can’t do what Leigh Matthews used to do, but the power that he used to generate Leigh Matthews and the power that Leo can generate is the closest thing I’ve seen.
“I think he’s got a rare balance of explosive power and endurance.
“It’s rare to see both, his one-on-one power is unstoppable but then to think he can go repeat efforts again and again - that’s exceptional.
“It’s no surprise that he’s getting a game and I’ve got no doubt what he’ll be able to achieve.
“He’s going to bring the next level fight and I just think in years to come we’ll be talking about this kid about how much intensity he brings to the game.”
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Originally published as Former coach reveals Leo Lombard’s rise from Burleigh Bombers to Gold Coast Suns
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